"Senior Jueying, please calm your anger..."

"The Cyan Profound Sect is acting this way... it’s highly likely they have some scheme in mind..."

Jueying’s fury left Phantom Zhenren, who was standing to the side, trembling with fear.

This female cultivator in feathered robes, with her willow brows, star-like eyes, and enchanting beauty, chose her words carefully as she softly tried to dissuade him.

Even though she was also one of the ’Four Shadows.’

But compared to Jueying, who was far superior to her in both seniority and cultivation...

...Phantom Zhenren seemed like a mere placeholder among the Spirit Control Sect’s ’Four Shadows’.

’In fact... wasn’t that more or less the truth?’

After all, the Spirit Control Sect was not a native sect of the Yaoguang Outer Sea.

Like the Cyan Profound Sect, it was a sect that had been forced to migrate to the Yaoguang Outer Sea after the power structure of the Central Sea Region was reshuffled following the Reversed Moon War.

However, compared to the Cyan Profound Sect, or for that matter, the Profound Yin Sect...

...the Spirit Control Sect’s founder, Qiuya, was exceptionally skilled in diplomacy and possessed outstanding combat strength!

The Spirit Control Sect’s alignment was also relatively neutral. It was not a vassal of the Blood Moon Demon Palace, and it didn’t have too much righteous cultivators’ blood on its hands.

Thus, even though it was exiled to the Outer Sea, the territory it was assigned was in the more civilized southern sea region.

This was unlike the miserable fate of the Cyan Profound Sect, which had to wage a war of expansion and brutally slaughter a wave of natives just to rule its sea region...

But even so.

In this barren Yaoguang Outer Sea, trying to cultivate a high-tier cultivator...

...was far more difficult than in the Central Sea Region!

This generation of the Spirit Control Sect...

...had managed to assemble the Four Spirit Shadows plus the Spirit Control Sect Leader.

—A roster of five Crystal-stage Zhenrens, which was already no easy feat!

It was inevitable that some of the Four Spirit Shadows were just there to make up the numbers.

...

"Don’t worry."

A moment later, Jueying reined in his emotions and spoke calmly.

"I am well aware."

"It’s just... that arrogant brat got on my nerves a little..."

"Heh... Su Ye, was it? Commander of the United Fleet..."

Jueying’s eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful look appearing within them.

Unlike the mid- to low-level cultivators, Jueying’s attitude toward the Cyan Profound Sect was rather cautious.

This was clear from the fact that the Spirit Control Sect’s main fleet had focused on deterrence after reaching the border sea region, never crossing the line.

In reality, he too was wary of the Cyan Profound Sect!

After all, he knew Wuying’s strength very well—it was comparable to the Tier Three Late Stage. And what’s more... Wuying had the spider statue bestowed by the Supreme Elder in his possession!

’Normally, a being of his caliber on a diplomatic mission should have been able to... advance or retreat as he pleased, right?’

But.

He was taken down.

And there has been no news of him since.

Only his Soul Lamp within the sect remained bright, indicating that Wuying was still alive.

According to the Spirit Control Sect’s intelligence, the Cyan Profound Sect likely hadn’t used the Jade Ruyi... that shared Spiritual Treasure. If they had, it would have created a huge commotion!

With the Spirit Control Sect’s intelligence network, even if limited by distance and lacking influence, a targeted investigation after the fact should have yielded some results.

And yet.

There was nothing.

They discovered nothing at all.

The Jade Ruyi was completely quiet, with no signs of being used.

But Wuying’s capture was a matter of solid proof...

This unknown situation forced Jueying to adopt a cautious stance toward the Cyan Profound Sect.

He wasn’t afraid of war.

And he also believed that the value of the new continent was worth going to war with the Cyan Profound Sect!

But at the very least...

’I should find out what their trump cards are, right?’

That was precisely why the Spirit Control Sect’s main fleet had remained restrained and had not crossed the border sea region.

It was just that...

"This in no way represents fear!"

"Since they want a decisive fleet battle, then... we’ll give them one!"

Jueying said coldly, word by word. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He had made his decision.

The United Fleet’s provocative actions made it impossible for him to continue ordering his fleet to stand down!

The Spirit Control Sect’s status as overlord of its sea region could not be challenged!

Hearing this, a hint of hesitation appeared on Phantom Zhenren’s face.

’After all, the Cyan Profound Sect’s trump cards are still unknown. If we engage in a decisive fleet battle, the losses might be... unbearable...?’

She was worried about herself.

After all, according to intelligence reports, the United Fleet also had several Fake Core and Crystal-stage cultivators!

If a decisive fleet battle were to occur, a clash between Tier Three beings would be inevitable... at that point, it wouldn’t be impossible for even a Crystal-stage Zhenren to fall!

At this thought, Phantom Zhenren’s heart grew fearful.

After all.

A great cultivator like Jueying, with his numerous methods and formidable strength, would probably be the one left standing at the end of a Tier Three battle.

But she, Phantom Zhenren, was only at the Early-stage Crystal Realm. Her combat power, compared to a Fake Core cultivator, held no significant advantage aside from her Quasi-Techniques.

’If a Tier Three battle breaks out...’

And just then.

Jueying’s gaze shifted. He glanced at her, snorted lightly, and interrupted her train of thought.

"Do not worry."

"I have made this decision, so I naturally have confidence!"

Jueying’s tone was certain.

"The Cyan Profound Sect’s United Fleet has come from afar. They lack a deep understanding of our sea region’s hydrographic conditions and meteorological changes..."

"Therefore, with just a few minor adjustments, we can lure this fleet into a deathtrap!"

"After all... the hurricane season is about to arrive..."

Jueying smiled, a profound meaning in his eyes.

With a flourish of his Magical Power, a sea chart materialized in his hand.

On it, a section of the sea was highlighted with bright red Magical Power!

"The site of the decisive fleet battle will be right here!"

Jueying said coldly.

"Eh?"

"This sea region...?"

Phantom Zhenren was taken aback.

Her eyes filled with confusion.

"Senior Jueying, this ’Qingwei Sea Region’ rarely suffers from wind disasters, even during hurricane season... Besides, we’re still at the end of the mild season..."

’Trying to use a hurricane to destroy the enemy in this sea region... Are you in your right mind?’

Phantom Zhenren reminded him.

However.

"Not so..."

Jueying shook his head.

"Did you know that five hundred years ago, the violent and roaring wind disasters in this area were second to none within our sect’s territory?"

"The calamities ravaged the sea region. Even during the mild season, they were powerful enough to threaten Tier Three spirit ships..."

"The reason the Qingwei Sea Region is so calm today is all thanks to the Golden Core methods of our founder!"

"She brought three Gui Cang Wind Stones from the Central Sea Region and used a natural Array in this sea region as a foundation to suppress the sea’s ’wind eye’ and calm the gales and waves!"

"Is that so?"

Phantom Zhenren’s cherry lips parted slightly, utterly astonished.

Given her age, she was indeed unaware of the Qingwei Sea Region’s history.

After all, by the time she was born, this sea region had already been calm for several hundred years...

To her, this was just ’normal’ and ’a matter of course’!

"This is a sect secret."

"Traditionally, only the head of the Four Shadows and the Sect Leader are privy to it..."

Jueying explained.

He continued.

"So, all we need to do is lure the Cyan Profound Fleet into this sea region."

"Then... we just need to move one of the Gui Cang Wind Stones and watch as the violent wind disaster tears them to shreds!"

"Even if the enemy ships are lucky enough to survive, their combat strength will be severely diminished after enduring the raging disaster... With us waiting well-rested to attack an exhausted enemy, how could we possibly not win?"

Jueying’s voice was utterly frigid!

Listening to his words, Phantom Zhenren’s eyes lit up slightly!

’What a great idea!’

’We’re sure to win now!’